WhatsApp is going to launch a new feature that will allow you to have two accounts on the same mobile. This has been confirmed by Mark Zuckerberg himself in a post on Facebook, although he has not given details of when this functionality will finally be launched for everyone. It will be a new option within the application, completely native, similar to how the multi-account system of, for example, Instagram works.
Until now, the only way to have two WhatsApp accounts on the same device was by using, on the one hand, the standard app and, on the other, downloading and using the Business application, which was by far not the most ideal situation. Of course, we must keep in mind that, as Zuckerberg has shown this new functionality, the two accounts are not displayed at the same time.
According to the first screenshot of WhatsApp’s multi-account system, the application will allow you to switch between two accounts at any time, but it seems that it will not use a unified message tray in which all chats are brought together, regardless of the account: you will have to resort to a selector to change the account each time.
WhatsApp’s multi-account system is official
Furthermore, according to the official blog, it will be essential have two SIM cards installed at the same time (or two eSIM) on the terminal where you want to use the multi-account system:
To set up a second account, you’ll need a second phone number and a SIM card, or a phone that accepts multiple SIMs or eSIM. Just open WhatsApp settings, click the arrow next to your name, and then click “Add account.” You can control privacy and notification settings on each account.
In practice, It seems that the two accounts will work separately, with its own privacy, notification and chat options. It is also unclear if the WhatsApp backup will include both accounts or you will have separate backups.
Be that as it may, the arrival of the WhatsApp multi-account system is an option that, despite having been long in coming, is finally official and puts an end to one of the most constant complaints from users, who on many occasions have had to resort to dubious origin to replicate this operation.